Mad Men Season 6 episode 3 The Collaborators

Tonight episode of Mad Men was full of bombshells. Every scene was another explosion. Also we got to hear Don's motto from his lip "This didn't happen" I wonder how many times he's said that during the run of this show. Finally getting to see a glimpse of his life after his father's death cleared it's origin up quite a bit.

Last season when Don said he was raised in a whore house I was confused, but tonight we see he was. His "mother" was taken into her sister and Uncle Mack's cat house. He saw her with Uncle Mack and I'm guessing johns after that. I was under the impression that Uncle Mack and his mother were an item so, if I'm right, at some point she must take him from her sister. Then I assume they either take over the whore house or move on. Either way I'm guessing "this never happened" was said to Don a lot.

It took me awhile to figure out the title The Collaborator. But I think the Heinz guys explain it. Sometimes the person you think is on your team is your worst enemy. Exemplified by every marriage in this episode. First we see Trudy and Pete at a dinner party being hit on by all their neighbors. Then the first bomb shell that Megan has had a miscarriage, apparently while she was considering an abortion. Of course there is Don and Silvia's relationship. According to this episode there is nothing but Is in team.

Peggy's relationship with Stan continues it's late night calls. But when she let's slip to Chaugh the information Stan has given her about the Heinz Ketchup client, it's her turn to decide if she is ready to be about advertising and not friends. All of her underlinings are already scared of her and when she tries to be a little supportive of them they respond by giving her feminine itch powder and a cruel client profile folder.

Seeing Trudy throw Pete out was a long time coming. They were a great power couple. Trudy kept giving Pete more and more slack and finally he hung himself. Loved her line "I'm drawing a 50 mile perimeter around this house. If you so much as open your fly to urinate, I will destroy you." And I believe it. God I hope they don't draw him back in with Peggy.

In the end it's all "like Munich" none of these people will ever be happy with what they have been given. They always want more and in the process will lose any chance at happiness. Don of course being exhibit A.

This and that:

Bob is the new Pete.  Pete is the new Don. Don is the new Roger. Roger may actually have figured out how good he had it to start with and seemed like he was trying to get Mona ( his first wife) back in last weeks episode.

Dance with the one that brought you.

Don burying icky Jaguar guy with back handed praise

Joan slamming Jag guy with "I know there's a part of you, you haven't seen in years.

Teenage Don with a Moe hair cut. Ugly duckling and how!

Jim Garrison mentioned in the tonight show clip Pete watches about new JFK assassination evidence is perhaps the ultimate in your collaborator stabbing/shooting you in the back.

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Mad Men Tea Leaves s5 e3

Before we get into tonights episode, let's take a moment to just appreciate that it was Sunday night and we get to watch Mad Men. Who knows how long we will have to wait for the next season so let's enjoy it thoroughly. Ok now for the show.

It was great to see Betty, and so much of her. I was terrified they were going to kill her off with cancer, but it looks like she is just stuffing herself and her feelings for Don. She needs to hear Don tell her it was all going to be ok and when he called her birdy, you could see her just soak it up like water in the desert.I thought Henry's head was going to explode when Don called to see if Betty was ok. Henry obviously knows Betty is still in love with Don. Sorry Henry, that's a risk you run when you're picking up pregnant ladies.

In the end Betty takes the call telling her she's ok in the lonely cavernous hall. Even with Henry right there she is alone. I was hoping Betty would see this brush with death as a chance at a new life. Though when she starts eating Sally's ice cream I think she may just go back to business as usual. I predict her getting bigger and bigger this season, and then hopefully having some kind clarity and getting help mentally and physically.

Pete and Roger are continuing their war of words. Looks like Roger is getting pretty tired of it. This last round with Mohawk Airlines may be the nail in the coffin. Roger is tired of trying to keep up with all the kids. I wonder if his wife is one of them?? Roger is waiting for things to get back to normal, he doesn't realize this is normal now. He even says he's given up on actual life and death when Don talks to him about Betty being ill and how it will affect the kids.

Don and Harry's Rolling Stones excursion is a total flop. It brought to mind Don's trip with Sal, which also went up in flames. Both literally and figuritively. Don and Harry end up with Harry pounding 20 of something in a post high munchy session and Harry having accidently signed The Trade Winds instead of The Stones. Heinz wants the youth market and SCDP doesn't understand who that is at all.

Finally! Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price is integrated. We saw last week that a African American secretary was going to be hired but now a Jewish copy writer too. Fun/racist jokes about Don's new secretary's name being Dawn. Of course Roger with his "Always darkest before the Dawn." Harry and his general idiocy. Hopefully she will get a storyline. The new copywriter Micheal Ginsberg(does Scott Baio know he's been cloned?) seems a bit unbalanced but should be fun to watch. They already showed us his home life with his father, I'm guessing we'll see more there soon.

I don't know what to make of the closing credit song from Sound of Music, I am sixteen going on seventeen. Maybe just that Betty is still a child who needs someone to lead her, and that someone has to be Don.


Here is a Trade Winds song just for good measure. Coincidently they changed their name several times too.



As another side note. Translation of Megan's phone call with her parents, She said "yes it's hot. I'm drinking a lot of water. I miss you too." I'm not great with tenses so this might have been all in future tense and in regard to their trip to Fire Island. Anyway, I'm sure the exchange with her parents will come up later, maybe just that they're a bit over protective of her. Don doesn't have a great track record with in laws. He better watch it.

Mad Men "The Good New" S4 E3

Mad Men's third episode, left me wondering what the good news was the episode was named for. Perhaps it was the improved bed side manner of Joan's gynecologist. Or maybe that Joan's two abortions haven't affected her fertility. My new theory on Joan is that she has completely recreated herself too. She and Don may have more in common than we know.
Joan showed her hand, no pun intended, when her husband wanted to fix her hand. It was obvious she didn't trust his ability. Joan's getting a little sloppy all the way around. The whole fried chicken thing with Lane was not up to her standards. Then the complete flip out about the flowers, seemed unlike her.
Speaking of Lane, he really knows how to cut loose. The scene of him in the steakhouse was hysterical. "Look at me. I've got a big Texas belt buckle. That and the $25 whores equals the Americanization of Lane Pryce. Don and Lane's night out was pretty funny from beginning to end. The Godzilla movie was really unexpected.
It was good to see Anna, though you could tell from the moment Don entered the house things were coming apart for her. The leaking ceiling and the broken leg. Cancer was a forgone conclusion. She has been Don's moral compass, once she's gone god only knows what will become of him.
I was disappointed that Don didn't do the hard thing and tell Anna the bad news and stay to help her. Of course, I was disappointed that he hit on the teenager too, before she told him Anna was dying. Anytime Don gets in the car with young people it comes out badly. You would think he would have taken the hint the time he got mugged.
Basically, the good news is that the company actually had a good year, but all the employees lives are coming apart at the seams. Don obviously, but Lane is headed for divorce, and Joan's marriage is on hold at best, a facade at worst.
On a lighter note, looks like Lane will be needing a new secretary. Maybe we'll get to see Hildy or, please please please, Lois in the halls of SCDP.

Questions:
Does anyone know whose stand up routine that was in the comedy club? It sounded so familiar. "We know you're practicing self abuse. Come out with your hand up." Is it Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, who is that???? Also what happened at the 1963 Time Square New Years. Allison alludes to it at the beginning of the episode, but I have no idea.

Next Week: Based on the scenes from next week it looks like something is going to happen with the Clearsil account. I recognize the back of Pete's father in laws head. That may be the first sign, I've crossed into a bad place with my Mad Men addiction.